10 Ways to Make a Cozy Kitchen for the Holidays

If you have an eat-in kitchen, put down a festive tablecloth and some cloth napkins. And keep items such as a jar of honey, salt and pepper, some Christmas cookies, along with silverware on the table. Add a small vase with some flowers and it will become an inviting cozy kitchen space to sit down and enjoy a meal, snack or cup of hot cocoa.

Add some holiday fragrance to your cozy kitchen with a simmering potpourri. And just fill a pot with some water and aromatic ingredients, bring it to a low boil on the stove top and then turn it down and simmer for a few hours. (Set a timer on your phone so you don't forget about it.) Orange peels, whole cloves and cinnamon sticks provide a traditional holiday scent for your cozy kitchen.

If you have some open wall space, counter space or open shelving, put up a couple pieces of artwork or other holiday decorations. And try a couple seasonal pieces, your child's artwork that has been transferred to canvas or a framed affirmation.

Try placing a small table lamp on the end of a long kitchen island or counter, such as a salt lamp. And the light from the lamp will make the space feel more cozy when you don't need bright task lighting.

A fruit bowl on the kitchen counter not only encourages visitors to grab a (healthy) snack, it can serve as a decoration. And stick with fruits that won't rot quickly, such as apples, oranges, pears, pomegranates and grapefruit.

Try hanging a festive decoration in your cozy kitchen window. And try a small strand of LED Christmas lights or a fresh wreath.

Set aside a small corner of your kitchen and assemble a coffee bar. And think specialty coffees, hot chocolate mixes and teas, along with sugars, honey and some cinnamon. Keep a couple mugs out and invite guests to help themselves.

Try putting some pine cones in a large, clear glass vase or bowl, or some evergreen branches atop a vase filled partially with cranberries. And leave a centerpiece out on the kitchen island, on the counter or dining table.

Add some decorative holiday pillows to a bench. And you can also add some pads to dining chairs or island bar stools for a comfortable place for people to sit and linger.

Try adding some candles to your cozy kitchen. And consider small votive candles in jars or tie cinnamon sticks around a larger vanilla-scented candle.